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Sri Lanka Development Project










The Sri Lanka Development Project was founded by Dr. Bishan Rajapakse with a long term vision of making the world a better place to live in.

The Vision of the project:
  1. Strive to create a more equitable and sustainable world, starting with Sri Lanka
  2. Work towards Peace and Community Building through charitable ventures
  3. Build self respect and respect for one another
  4. Promote respect for the environment
  5. Encourage respect and support for the "Arts"
  6. Engage as many different disciplines as possible in this process by giving everyone an opportunity to help by doing what they do best or what they can afford to do
  7. Accountability and Transparency of all actions to move towards a fair and corruption free society with no exceptions
  8. Encourage everyone to have a "Vision for the future" by believing that change is possible


Current Project

Improving Emergency Medical Care in Sri Lanka Objectives of this project are:
  1. Aid the development of Emergency Medicine in Sri Lanka through charitable ventures
  2. Purchase the equipment necessary for the practice of emergency medicine and critical care
  3. Demonstrate a system of carrying out charitable work and provide encouragement for others to do the same in their own capacity


Why Medical Equipment?

I am an Emergency Medicine training registrar working primarily in rural Sri Lanka carrying out research aimed at reducing deaths in patients who have deliberately ingested poisons due to a variety of social problems.

Whilst working in the health sector I have witnessed first hand, the huge obstacles that lay upon the public health sector in providing the best care for patients, especially in some of the peripheral hospital units. The two most challenging areas I have noticed are firstly, the heavy workload and lack of opportunity for training (compared to my luxurious Australasian background). Secondly, the lack of basic, emergency monitoring equipment in the general medical wards and in the emergency treatment areas. Many of the cardiac monitors are in excess of 20 years old and partially working. The former issue of training is something I would like to address through my research in medical education. The latter issue is primarily due to financial constraints and it this area that I would like to address through this project.

Although I have only had direct exposure to three secondary and tertiary sized hospitals in the rural areas of Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Chillaw) and two urban centred hospitals (Peradeniya and Galle), I know through my contact with colleagues working in other areas that the problems and challenges faced by the hospitals are mirrored.

In 2007, I was involved with the Australian Sri Lankan Association (ASLA) in Canberra in raising AUD 3000 for buying 2 portable and stand alone oxygen saturation monitors. This was a very successful project which inspired me to further carry out fundraising for hospital equipment.



While my vision is to start with the Anuradhapura hospital, if this fundraising project for vital medical equipment is a success, I would like to expand to other hospitals. I have initially chosen Anuradhapura hospital because I understand the needs there and know the situation personally and I have carried out a basic monitoring equipment inventory and a needs assessment.

The next hospital I would like to focus on is Jaffna given the current crisis faced by this district. I have experienced deep sentiments of goodwill by Sri Lankans living locally and abroad towards all citizens despite the crisis and I would like to help strengthen and promote it by channelling it into charitable acts for all Sri Lankans.

I believe that physicians have an important role in promoting peace by “community building”, given the very non-judgemental nature of our work and our position in society, whether we deserve it or not. Charitable acts are a mechanism for much needed community building and strengthening. Perhaps this is something we can look forward to in the future.

Equipment Needed

The Anuradhapura hospital has 2 male and 2 female wards (each 50-100 inpatients) Currently each ward has one fully functioning cardiac monitor and one partially working monitor.

Therefore, 4 new Mindray Cardiac monitors (MEC- 1000, China) are needed to provide one new monitor for each of the 4 wards. The estimated cost is: Rs. 250,000 (£1250) each

The type of monitor we are aiming for:

Portable cardiac monitor - Also measures Blood pressure & O2 saturations.
MEC 1000 - Mindray (China) - Best value for money brand in the local market.



For more information contact Bishan Rajapakse, or visit the SLDP website.